Beacon Hill: Small Group Tour of Civil War Boston

Name: Beacon Hill: Small Group Tour of Civil War Boston
Brand: Hub Town Tours
SKU: 66111P4
Price: 35.00 USD
Rating: 5.0 (61 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceBoston, USA

Midday Tour of Freedom Trail History Small Group

2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Experience the Black Heritage Trail and get to know more about Civil War-era Boston on this small-group walking tour. In the company of a guide, head out into Beacon Hill and hear stories about the Underground Railroad, Boston Brahmins, and other historical facts. Enjoy a focus particularly on the Civil War years.

Explore Boston on foot
Learn about the Civil War in Boston from your guide
Enjoy focused attention on a small-group tour
Visit landmarks on the Black Heritage Trail

What's Included

Black Heritage Trail (All 10 landmarks)
Small Groups (16 guests max)
Beacon Hill Neighborhood

Guides in Period Costume
Admission inside Museums
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

1 P Charles St, Boston, MA 02108, USA
The tour gathers on Boston Common at the intersection of Beacon and Charles Streets. Please meet your guide at 1 Charles Street (02108), on the east side of the road, which is inside Boston Common and opposite Starbucks Coffee.

Start time

10:30 AM

End point

Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial
26 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, USA
Your 2.5-hour tour concludes in front of the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, across the street from the Massachusetts State House. This special loop tour of Beacon Hill ends within 0.2 miles of its starting location at the Prescott House.

What To Expect

Charles Street

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Boston Common (Pass By)

Acorn Street

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Louisburg Square (Pass By)

Phillips School

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

John J Smith House

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Charles Street (Pass By)

Charles Street Meeting House

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

John Coburn House (Pass By)

Lewis and Harriet Hayden House

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Otis House

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Old West Church (Pass By)

Charles Sumner House (Pass By)

Smith Court Residences (Pass By)

Abiel Smith School (Pass By)

African Meeting House

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

George Middleton House

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Massachusetts State House (Pass By)

Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Not recommended for travelers who have difficulty standing for extended periods
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

61 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-9 of 61 reviews

You "Will" be glad you did...

Wade_S, Sep 2023

As a 70 year black male with degrees from two well known HBCUs, I can say that without a doubt, this tour guide (Will) provided one of the most intersting and informative experiences I have ever had on a "tour". I would especially encourage those of us who thought we might "know a thing or two" to spend a couple of hours with Will. I believe that like me, you will be glad you did.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you, Wade, for the 5-star review of our new Beacon Hill walking tour. The history of the neighborhood is incredible, and to experience it with a fantastic guide like Will is a treat! Please share your experience with anyone coming to Boston, we feel it is a history that needs to be heard by more Americans!

Incredible Civil War tour with an incredible guide

Alfredo_P, Aug 2023

Incredible story with an incredible history professor. I did not know the amazing story Boston citizens played in the upcoming of the Civil War and the end of slavery. Plus, you get to see more of a beutiful neighbourhood!!! I would recommend this tour to anyone that passes through Boston, or even someone that lives here... Thank you so much Dave for this experience

Response from Host, Aug 2023

The Civil War is not a topic most people think about when visiting Boston, but it's incredible how much of a central role this town played prior to that conflict! Beacon Hill on its architectural merits is a must-visit part of Boston, but the history hidden within is truly eye-opening. Thanks for joining Dave on the Black Heritage Trail to visit Boston's Underground Railroad safe houses and learn more about the birth of America's "Second Revolution"! We hope to see you in Boston again soon, Alfredo.

Very informative & interesting!

Jennifer_B, Jul 2023

Our tour guide, Will, did a fantastic job. He was knowledgeable, engaging and passionate about the subject matter. We truly enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you, Jennifer, for the five-star review of Will's tour! We are lucky to have guides like Will who is not only a veteran tour guide but also dedicated historian and fantastic storyteller.

Our tour guide Drew...

Lisa_G, May 2022

Our tour guide Drew brought history to life. He was engaging and shared some interesting facts of trivia for those of us who are history buffs!

Response from Host, May 2022

Thank you for sharing this fantastic review, Lisa! Drew is a veteran guide with years of experience along the Freedom Trail, and we're so excited to have him as part of the team at Hub Town Tours. We'll pass along your kind words!

Freedom Trail in a glimpse

Anna_B, Apr 2022

The history of the Freedom Trail is amazing. Having a guide with true passion for the history made the history come alive. I wish we had more time to complete the whole walk - it was a bit tiring for my 12 and 8 year old, so if anything, I would recommend older kids (over 15) or do a longer tour with no kids.

Response from Host, Apr 2022

We appreciate you and your family joining us, Anna! Our tours are best suited for adult audiences, but we do find that younger kids enjoy the shorter 1.5-hour, 1-mile tour. Our 2.5-hour option is usually a bit too much history and walking for our youngest visitors!

Perfect fall day tour of Boston

Kelsey_B, Oct 2021

Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and really cool. You could tell she was passionate but told a story so it wasn’t just an info dump. She was so awesome. I highly recommend this tour!

Response from Host, Oct 2021

Thank you so much for this fantastic testimonial, Kelsey! We'll be sure to relay your kind words to Julia—she's been an amazing addition to the Hub Town Tours team this year.

There was a short wait...

Kelly_E, Oct 2021

There was a short wait for the guide, but she made up for it. Very knowledgeable, just the info we were looking for.

Response from Host, Oct 2021

Please accept our apology for the delay! Our guide Julia was stuck on Boston's notorious subway system, but it's fantastic to hear how much you enjoyed the tour once it began! Thanks for choosing Hub Town Tours, and for sharing this 5-star review with us.

Enthusiastic and knowledgable guide

Peter_P, Sep 2021

Extremely knowledgeable and engaging guide! Her enthusiasm made the tour tip top! Excellent detail without overwhelming a 13 year old with too much extraneous information.

Response from Host, Sep 2021

We really appreciate this phenomenal review, Peter, and will pass your kind words to Julia! She's a tip-top history guide, and a huge asset to the Hub Town Tours team.

Wonderful tour

Linda_T, Jul 2021

We really enjoyed this tour. Our guide was a native Bostonian and very knowledgeable about the history of this beautiful city. It was delightful listening to her.

Response from Host, Jul 2021

Thank you so much for this excellent testimonial, Linda! We're so excited to have Julia on the team at Hub Town Tours—she's truly passionate about Boston and its incredible history.